Deterrence theory is one of the earliest and most well-known criminological theories, but has also been party to many myths, criticisms, and debates.
Deterrence theorists posit that crime can be deterred through sanctions that are swift, certain, and severe. People can be deterred after experiencing punishment or observing the punishment of others. In this way, crime can be prevented rather than simply sanctioned.
Deterrence theory has been since extended to include factors such as informal sanctions, punishment avoidance, and indirect or vicarious effects. It also has motivated and benefitted from advances in measurement and modeling – for example, measuring subjective rather than objective sanction risk and using longitudinal, vignette, and experimental research methods.
The theory holds natural applications to criminal justice system policy in policing, courts, and corrections. Deterrence theory has been applied to many influential policies and practices, such as mandatory sentencing, the death penalty, “hot-spot” policing, intensive community supervision, and even mass incarceration.
Empirical research has provided (mixed) support for the theoretical ideas of deterrence and its related policies. In this course, we will trace 1) the development and history of deterrence theory and its extensions, 2) empirical support for the theory, and 3) policies motivated by deterrence theory, including evidence on the efficacy of these policies. The goal is to provide course participants with a broad understanding of deterrence theory and generate thoughtful discussion about the implications for crime-prevention strategies.